By Maher Ahmed - Reporter
Somalia, 6 January 2026 A series of high-level diplomatic contacts and meetings across the Middle East and North Africa this week reflected renewed regional coordination in support of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
Somalia’s Foreign Minister held talks in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart, focusing on bilateral relations and cooperation on regional security issues, according to diplomatic sources.
The discussions coincided with a phone call between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which took place while the Somali Foreign Minister was in Riyadh. The two leaders exchanged views on regional developments, including the situation in the Horn of Africa.
In a related move, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister traveled to Cairo for talks with his Egyptian counterpart. The meeting produced a joint position in which Riyadh and Cairo reaffirmed their firm support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and strongly condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, describing it as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.
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Officials said the talks also addressed broader regional crises, particularly in Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Türkiye—key allies of Somalia—agreed that developments in these three arenas are closely interconnected and could have direct implications for Red Sea security and wider regional stability.
In a further diplomatic development, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel today to Nairobi for talks with Kenyan President William Ruto. Diplomatic sources said Israel’s move to recognize Somaliland will be high on the agenda, alongside other bilateral and regional issues.
Meanwhile, Mogadishu is preparing to host another major diplomatic engagement. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to arrive on Friday in a visit described as historic—the highest-level visit by a Chinese official to Somalia in decades. The visit is widely seen as a strong signal of Beijing’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty at a sensitive regional moment.
Diplomatic sources said the accelerating pace of regional engagement reflects growing concern over fragmentation risks in the Horn of Africa and a concerted effort by Somalia’s partners to present a unified front in support of Mogadishu amid rapidly shifting regional dynamics.
